Bent was not fit for qualifiers, says Pardew

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Alan Pardew has sympathy for Steve McClaren after the England head coach was jeered by fans during England’s match against Andorra, but the Charlton Athletic manager was adamant yesterday that he could not have helped McClaren’s cause by allowing Darren Bent to join the England squad.

The Charlton forward is expected to be fit to face Wigan Athletic at The Valley tomorrow, but the knee ligament injury that he sustained in the club’s previous match, at home to Newcastle United, would not have withstood the rigours of international football. “I don’t think there was any chance of him playing in